Satish Kumar, a wheelchair user from Chennai, recently started an
online petition which is addressed to top officials. The petition highlights
need for connecting Velachery to Vandalur as part of the Chennai metro rail
phase 2 extension. The petition in Change.org has received over 1500
signatures.
When Chennai metro rail facility was launched a couple of years back, it was
inaccessible for wheelchair users. In one of the incidents, the wheelchair of
city based disability rights Smita Sadasivan got stuck in
between the platform and the rake raising safety concerns of metro rail for
passengers with disabilities. After that, officials stepped up and enhanced
the facilities. Today, many wheelchair users across Chennai use the metro
rail facility to commute across the city. Yet, there is more yet to be done.
Satish Kumar, a wheelchair user and member of the NGO
Ektha Foundation has started an online petition asking top
authorities to connect Velachery to Vandalur as part of the
Metro Rail’s Phase 2 extension.
Satish’s petition is addressed to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh
Puri and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ei K Palanisami.
Being one of the busiest routes in Chennai city, connecting Velachery to
Vandalur will be of help to both people with and without disabilities who are
struggling to move from one place to another in Chennai traffic.
There are hardly one or two public buses that have wheelchair accessible
facilities. They don’t ply to all the routes and at times when we need
them. So Chennai metro is the most accessible mode of public transport for
wheelchair users in the city. There are braille facilities for visually
impaired travellers and even tactile floors. So people with disabilities
can travel independently. Half of the city is connected as well.
–Satish Kumar, Petitioner
Reportedly, Vandalur, a busy commercial area, is going to get their first
main bus stand. Buses from different parts of the state will be plying from
here. “Many outstation buses will be halting here. Hence, it is easier if
they have a metro access to this place. This will benefit many people”, says
Satish.
His petition in online platform Change.org has received over
1,500 signatures. He is hopeful that more people will step up and help him
reach maximum numbers very soon so that he can send it to concerned
officials. “There are many offices and colleges in the stretch from Velachery
to Vandalur. The whole city can be connected if the metro facilities are
expanded. I started this petition on 2 October and have been getting great
responses”, he says.
Sonu Bharadwaj who signed the petition comments, “This
petition is something I have been expecting to come up with for about a two
and half months ago. Making the farthest corners of the city reachable in no
time. I strongly believe the possibility and hereby request the Government of
Tamil Nadu to consider this petition and extend phase 2 metro project”.
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